Ankus

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Miguel,
Could you get a very good close up of the screw thread?
Jens

Hi Jens, it will be my pleasure. I will try to post it tomorrow but I have to tell you, in case you hadn't noticed already, that my photos are not that good and may require the good services of estcrh to work his magic on them, we will see.
Kind regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Jens, it will be my pleasure. I will try to post it tomorrow but I have to tell you, in case you hadn't noticed already, that my photos are not that good and may require the good services of estcrh to work his magic on them, we will see.
Kind regards
Miguel

Hi Jens,

Here is the photo as promised, I hope it is good enough for your needs.
Kind Regards
Miguel

ps Sorry but system will not open photo to upload. Will try again later.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Miguel,
Have a look here. BI mentions the age of the ancus http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=Ancus

It is quite interesting, as he also mentions the katar, which I took back to about the 10th century. So both are very old - and maybe even older than that.

[Ian]

Jens and Miguel:

Is there any evidence that the ankus, or elephant goad, was actually used as a weapon?

Ian.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Ian

Jens and Miguel:

Is there any evidence that the ankus, or elephant goad, was actually used as a weapon?

Ian.

Ian, this one was obviously intended as a weapon.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Ian, this one was obviously intended as a weapon.

Nice combination Ankus gun. Obviously the purpose of the gun was a weapon but it does not signify that the normal Ankus was used as a weapon although it certainly could be.
Regards
Miguel

[Jens Nordlunde]

Yes ancuse' could have fire arms attached, although it was not the norm. However, should someone directing an elephant feel attached, he would use the ancus to defend himself and his master, as he would likely not be armed with anything other than a dagger. The ancus would have been a rather good weapon, as it had the spikes. Getting a blow if one of these spikes would not have been very pleasent.
It is, however, likely that the elephant would have run away before such a thing happend, due to the battle noice and the firering of guns and cannons.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Nice combination Ankus gun. Obviously the purpose of the gun was a weapon but it does not signify that the normal Ankus was used as a weapon although it certainly could be.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel, your right, I just had to throw it in, although ankus were associated with weapons I think they were usually more of a tool.

Here are a group of interesting weapons from Junagarh Fort, on either side are what has to be the largest ankus I have seen.

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Is there any evidence that the ankus, or elephant goad, was actually used as a weapon?

Stone's Glossary and Egerton both include it; therefore, obviously a weapon! It even features as a weapon in the 1st editions AD&D Monster Manual.

More realistically, the ones with hidden spikes in the handle are clearly weapons. That doesn't mean that the ankus itself isn't a weapon; one sees such spikes in axes, for example.

It's carried as a weapon by Parvati in her aspect as Durga, goddess of the victory of good over evil. The whole set of weapons is the trisula, sword, chakram, bow and arrow, mace, shield, axe, noose, ankus. There's variation - sometimes I see a snake instead of the noose, a conch shell (i.e., a battle trumpet). Apparently, the weapons can include a javelin, but I don't recall seeing one in art. The picture below also includes what looks like a bell.

Which doesn't mean it was used as a weapon by humans (but surely it was, as an item of convenience), or designed for use as a weapon, except for gun/hidden spike versions. But it means it has some official status as a weapon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga
Pic from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:D...uramardini.JPG

[estcrh]

Here are a few of the more elaborate ankus.

[ariel]

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Here are a few of the more elaborate ankus.

Estcrh, mouth-wateringly beautiful. They must have been carried as status symbols, the craftsmanship as with all Indian weapons of quality awesome.
Thanks for sharing these pics.
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Miguel,
Have a look here. BI mentions the age of the ancus http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=Ancus

"the ancus, in pure form is apparant for at least 1200 years, and most probably more (i rarely look further :-) in both the north and south of india."

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Miguel,
Have a look here. BI mentions the age of the ancus http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=Ancus

It is quite interesting, as he also mentions the katar, which I took back to about the 10th century. So both are very old - and maybe even older than that.

Hi Jens,
Fascinating thread, certainly makes you think. The more you learn the more you have to alter your thinking. From that thread, although I have only read it once and will have to read it a few more times for it to sink in, I gathered that that the Kora did not appear in Nepal until around the 16thC which is roughly about the date of the oldest known Kukri but it looks as if it was known in parts of India in the 8thC, interesting. I have not really absorbed it yet. Thank you very much for providing this link.

Now I will try agin to upload the Ankus screw thread. I think my PC was downloading an update which prevented me from uploading, anyway here goes if at first you don't succeed and all that.
Kind regards
Miguel